From Sushi Blues to the Martha Street Culp Auditorium, one local musician is adding his own flavors to a traditional musical recipe.
Dr. Rande Sanderbeck, director of percussion studies at ETSU, has focused much of his performance career on a genre of music he has grown to love as a musician and educator – jazz.
“Jazz gives freedom to be more expressive as a performer,” Sanderbeck said. “It’s a challenge to constantly be creating new rhythmic and melodic variations to add, and I like that challenge.”
People should understand playing jazz is like having a multi-person conversation, says Sanderbeck, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from West Virginia University and a doctorate of music from University of Kentucky. The constant interplay between musicians, he says, is what makes jazz his favorite. “No one really knows who will say what, and when they will say it.”
The thunderous sounds of timpani drums, the regimental beat of marching percussion, the melodic notes of marimbas and xylophones and ethnic rhythms of hand percussion are all areas of expertise for Sanderbeck.
However, he can most often be found performing on his instrument of choice, the drum set. “I was very interested in drum set from an early age,” he said. “I have studied privately since about the age of 6 and have been able to make a career of it.”
That career has included a variety of performances – from talkative dinner crowds at Sushi Blues to sedate, classical-loving audiences at the Martha Street Culp Auditorium on the campus of ETSU. But regardless of the venue, Sanderbeck says he brings his love and dedication for the music to every performance.
“Every gig is important,” he said. “I love to perform. Regardless of where I am or how many come, I will always have something to offer for those that are there.”
However, it is not only the audience that gets the chance to appreciate Sanderbeck’s approach to music. His fellow musicians do as well.
“He’s very passionate about music,” said Justin Stanton, a local jazz musician who frequently performs with Sanderbeck. “He’s very professional and very musical as a musician. It’s a pleasure to perform with him.”
And performing is something Sanderbeck has been doing for a long time. With the birth of his musical career at 9, playing polka in the clubs of Pittsburgh, he has spent many years sharpening his musical skills.
As a musician, he has studied an array of percussion instruments and a vast range of musical styles, including rock, funk, swing, Latin, salsa, samba and reggae.
“I have expanded my stylistic knowledge by being diverse enough to play almost anything,” he said. “That allows me to blend all styles into my own playing.”
While playing is a large part of Sanderbeck’s career, education shares an equally important role. As director of percussion studies and a professor of music, he teaches a variety of percussion topics and private lessons to many music majors and non-majors. “I want to inspire students to be creative, to take advantage of the creativity they have and not be locked into a specific style,” he said.
In 34 years as an educator, watching the achievements of his students is something Sander-beck says makes the job worthwhile. “Seeing the success of my students as teachers and performers, that’s how I judge myself as a teacher,” he said. “It’s tremendously rewarding to see achievements and to see my own influence in their teaching and playing.”
In addition to his career as a teacher and performer, Sanderbeck has also taken on the role of a composer. Influenced by many musicians, including such greats as Buddy Rich, Peter Erskine and Art Blakey, Sanderbeck has created a musical composition to honor one of his heroes.
“Homage to Max,” a five-movement soloist composition for the drum set, is a piece Sanderbeck stylistically composed to honor jazz legend Max Roach. Each movement of the work honors a distinct style of Roach, who has been a major influence in Sanderbeck’s career.
When not submerged in his musical career, Sanderbeck enjoys the leisure of traveling and home improvement. “I enjoy traveling,” he said. “I also like doing odd jobs around the house – projects where I can work with my hands. And of course, I like listening to good music.”
Nowadays, Sanderbeck listens to and plays with a variety of local musicians, including Rick Simerly, Justin Stanton and Charlie Goodwin, at a variety of local locations.
Sanderbeck also performed with his students at the ETSU Percussion Ensemble concert Dec. 7. The concert contained a variety of styles, percussion instrumentation and literature, including a jazz piece that showcased Sanderbeck on the drum set.
Looking ahead, Sanderbeck has visions for the years to come. “I want to see the continued success and development of my students,” he said. “The continued growth of the percussion department is a future goal, as well the continuance of my own professional development.

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